Trunk.



i. H. BREWER.

TRUNK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, HHS.

Mama 0%. 9,1917.

mwv l wue/wi o a d- H-SREWERL JOHN H. BREWER, on LoUIsvILtE, KENTUCKY.

TRUNK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 191.7

Applieation'filed November 6, 1916. Serial No. 129,800.

To all 10/ 60220 it may concern Be it known that I, J oHN H. Bnnwnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville. in the county of Jeilerson and State of .llentucky,'-have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relatesto certain improvements in trunks and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character of a linock down type; and it is an object of the-invention to provide a trunk of this-general character having novel and improved means whereby the same may bereadily and conveniently assembled without the use of screws, 1121118501 similar securing members.

The invention also has for an object to provide a novel and improved device ofthis general characterwherein thesides and ends thereof are capable of detachable interlocle ins; "and whereby the sameare maintained in assembled relation through the medium of a bottom panel and a supplemental or tray constructio1i' and in the combination and an.

rangeinent of the several parts of my improved trunk whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, lessexpensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for'use, all as will behereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be" the better understood, 1 will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein -Figure l is a j'longitudinal vertical sectional view takenthrough a trunk constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through a trunk as herein embodied;

Fig.3 illustrating a connection between an end panel and a side panel;

is an enlarged fragmentary view Fig. 4 is an enlargedfragmentary sectional view of an end of a side panel;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view in bottom plan of the top or cover of the trunk as herein disclosed V Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken through a corner connection and illustrating a slightly modified form of invention Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentaryhorizontal sectional view taken through a corner jointillustrating a further embodiment of my invention and Fig. 8 is also an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken through a corner illustrating a still further embodiment of my invention.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings E'E denotethe end panels of my improved trunk and which have their oppo site ends provided with the inwardly and oppositely facing grooves 1 adapted to receive the outwardly-eXtendin flanges 2 disposed alongthe vertical margins of the side panels SS.

The end panels E and the side panels S are provided with the inwardly disposed and upwardly facing-grooves 3 into which are adapted to be seated the depending flanges l. carried by the bottom panel B whereby it will be perceived that the outward pressure upon the panels E and S as exerted by the panel B serves to e'fieetu-ally maintain the panels E and Si in assembled relation. y

T have also found it of especial advantage to provide/the basis of the grooves or chan nels 1 and 3 with compressible fa'cings or linings 5 preferably of rubber so that when the panels E, S and B are in assembled rela-- tion, wa ter-tight joint'sare e'fi'e'cted. I have also foundthat the same advantageous results can be obtained by having the longitudinal'margins of the flanges '2 and i provided with the compressible strips 6, as is illustrated in Fig. 40f the accompanying drawings.-

1 also find it of advantage to provide the panels E and S at a predetermined point below their upper marginal portionsivith the" inwardly directed, "flanges 7 provided with the upwardly facing grooves or chan: nels e and in which are adapted messes-tea the depending flanges 9 of the frame 10,

whereby it will be noted that sufficientoutward pressure is exerted at the upper portions of said panels E and S in order to maintain the same in assembled relation. The frame 10 is also adapted to serve as a support for a tray of conventional type and which is generally employed in connection with trunks.

'l he upper longitudinal margin of one of the panels S is provided with the extension 11 having extending entirely therealong the inwardly facing groove or channel 12, the inner wall of which being circularly disposed in cross section and in excess of a semicircle, Interlocking with said groove 12 is a tongue 14 disposed along a longitudinal margin of the cover or top C whereby a hinged connection is afforded between the body of the trunk and said cover, and the interlocking portion of the flange let is of such configuration in cross section as to permit the cover C to be disengaged from the coacting panel Supon swinging the cover or top 0 upward or backward beyond an angle of et5 relative to the coacting panel S. i

I also find it of advantage to have operatively engaged with one of the panels E the stay member 15 which is detachably engaged, as at 16, with the top or cover member C. The member 15 serves to normally prevent the cover or top member C being thrown beyond an angle of 45 relative to the coacting panel S but is removably engaged with said top or cover C so that the same may be removed from the panel S when the requirements of practice may require.

T he cover or top C as herein embodied is of a conventionalconstruction and the body and flanges thereof may have a permanent fixed relation, but as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 5, the flanges 17 of the cover member are hingedly connected with the body portion 18 thereof so that said top or cover C may be folded to occupy a mini mum of space as is particularly desired for storage or in a return shipment when the trunk is without load.

The inner faces of the flanges 17 are provided with the clips 19 with which the retaining frames 20 are adapted to coact, each of said frames being substantially U-shaped in form and having their base portions extending along an end flange, as is thought to be clearly disclosed in the accompanying drawings. 7

It has also been found of advantage to provide the interlocking flanges and tongues of the panels E and S with the transversely disposed interlocking tongues and grooves, as indicated at 21, whereby said panels E and S are held against relative vertical Copies oi this patent may be obtained movement. The tongues and grooves as indicated at 21 are caused to interlock when the flanges 2 are inserted within the grooves 23, the side panels S being moved in a direction longitudinally of the end panels E. I have also found that additional strength may be imparted to the interlocking portions of the panels E and S by providing adjacent faces of the coacting tongues and grooves with the registering longitudinally disposed channels 22 into which are inserted a rod 23.

Although not essential, I have under certain conditions found it advisable to employ set screws 2% coacting with the end panels E and the side panels S in order to increase the outward pressure to maintain said panelsE and S in interlocked relation From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a trunk constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremelysimple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention.

in practice, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A trunk comprising side panels and end panels, said side and end panels being provided with interlocking flanges and grooves, opposed walls of the tongues and grooves being provided with longitudinally disposed channelsadapted to register, rods insertible within the registering channels, and means for exerting outward pressure upon said panels for maintaining the same in interlocked relation.

2. A; trunk comprising side panels and end panels, said side and end panels being provided with interlocking flanges and grooves, opposed walls of the flanges and grooves being provided with transversely disposed interlocking tongues and grooves disposed transversely thereof, and means for exerting outward pressure upon said panels for maintaining the same in interlocked relation. r

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

I JOHN H. BREWER.

Witnesses W. S. HAMILTON, DARVVARD GRINsTnAn {MI-five cents each, y sing the fCommissio ner of Patents, a washingtonflD fld I 

